Wall Street’s abuzz that its top watchdog — Mary Schapiro — is considering resigning even before her term expires in June 2014, as she recuperates at home from a recent illness.

Execs inside and outside the Beltway are speculating that the 57-year-old Securities and Exchange Commission chief, who has served nearly four years, is mulling leaving her post and may announce her plans as early as November after the presidential election is decided.

“I suspect sometime after the election — regardless of how the election turns out — she will say, ‘I’m outta here,”’ said one former SEC official.

Chatter surrounding Schapiro’s status at the regulatory agency has reached a crescendo in the past few days as an undisclosed medical procedure has resulted in her taking a leave of absence — set to end tomorrow.

An SEC official told The Post that Schapiro has been on medical leave since last Thursday and has been working from home as she recovers.

Schapiro, who was appointed SEC head by President Obama in 2009, replacing Chris Cox, has been a lightning rod for criticism.

Sources say that Schapiro is chafing under the political gridlock in Washington that she feels has stymied a number of her initiatives.

“Part of the problem for [Schapiro] is that the tone in Washington has been so partisan,” said Christopher Whalen, of Tangent Capital Partners.

The chairwoman’s recent handling of talks surrounding new rules governing money-market funds, some detractors say, has also created bad blood within the SEC. “She’s just frustrated,” Whalen noted.